Travel is one of the most rewarding parts of life, but there’s a lot to consider before jetting off. From choosing the best flights and hotels to designing an itinerary that suits your needs, the preparation alone can sometimes be challenging. That’s why having the right travel insurance in place before you set off can make all the difference, allowing you to relax and really enjoy the moments that matter – with few moments feeling as rewarding as sitting back and watching the sun dip below the horizon after having arrived in your destination.
Whether you’re at the end of an action-packed day, or you’ve spent the day relaxing on the beach, the onset of nightfall each day offers the perfect chance to pause and soak in your surroundings. But for sunset enthusiasts one question remains: where can you find the most breathtaking skies of all? With 339 million posts under #sunset on Instagram and non-stop debate amongst travellers and photographers, we turned to science to see if we could reveal the answer.
What Makes a Great Sunset?
Sunset colours are created by a phenomenon scientists call scattering, where molecules and particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays. During the day, sunlight travels through less of the atmosphere and there’s less scattering as a result, meaning shorter wavelengths like blue and violet are more prominent. At sunset, however, sunlight nears the horizon and has to travel through more of the atmosphere, so extra scattering takes place, and this allows longer wavelengths like red, orange and yellow to come through.
What makes sunsets amazing is that they are all unique, and this is because how much the molecules and particles in the atmosphere scatter is also significantly influenced by weather conditions like cloud cover, wind speed, rainfall and humidity. This means that perfect sunsets depend heavily on what kind of weather precedes the moment the sun sinks below the horizon.
How We Ranked The World’s Best Sunsets
Experts generally agree that cloud cover between 30-70% is the sweet spot for a fantastic sunset. While calm to moderate winds that can shift heavy clouds and disperse pollutants, minimal precipitation and moderate levels of humidity that can scatter light further are all further positive signs that you’ll see an impressive show in the sky.
In order to find out which locations around the world have the best weather conditions on average for a vivid sunset, we analysed historical weather data for over 100 famous sunset spots and scored them based on the metrics above, as well as their prevalence on social media as a marker of popularity. All scores were normalised and weighted based on how much of an impact they have on sunsets, and a sunset score out of 100 was given (with 100 being the top score).
The World’s 25 Most Beautiful Sunsets
SWIPE TABLE
| Rank | Sunset Destination | Location | Sunset Score |
| 1 | Cappadocia | Nevșehir, Turkey | 86.1 |
| 2 | Waikiki Beach | Hawaii, United States of America | 79.8 |
| 3 | Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona, United States of America | 79.6 |
| 4 | Uluru (Ayers Rock) | Northern Territory, Australia | 79.6 |
| 5 | Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming, United States of America | 77.3 |
| 6 | Taj Mahal | Agra, India | 74.8 |
| 7 | Piazzale Michelangelo | Florence, Italy | 73.8 |
| 8 | Ipanema Beach | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 72.0 |
| 9 | Haleakalā Summit | Hawaii, United States of America | 71.2 |
| 10 | Arthur’s Seat | Edinburgh, Scotland | 69.4 |
| 11 | Uluwatu | Bali, Indonesia | 69.0 |
| 12 | Burj Khalifa | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 68.5 |
| 13 | Trocadéro Gardens | Paris, France | 66.2 |
| 14 | Duomo | Milan, Italy | 65.7 |
| 15 | Dubai Desert | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 65.0 |
| 16 | Positano | Amalfi Coast, Italy | 65.0 |
| 17 | Grand Bend | Ontario, Canada | 64.6 |
| 18 | Ha Long Bay | Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam | 64.0 |
| 19 | Big Sur | California, United States of America | 63.5 |
| 20 | Grand Canal | Venice, Italy | 62.1 |
| 21 | Oia | Santorini, Greece | 59.2 |
| 22 | Joshua Tree National Park | California, United States of America | 58.8 |
| 23 | Mykonos Town | Mykonos, Greece | 58.4 |
| 24 | Walls of Dubrovnik | Dubrovnik, Croatia | 57.9 |
| 25 | Sahara Desert | Morocco | 57.4 |
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- Cappadocia (Nevșehir, Turkey) – Sunset Score of 86.1
Known as the world’s hot air balloon capital, Cappadocia offers tourists over 200 days of flyable weather each year, with many specifically visiting the area to take to the skies. The UNESCO World Heritage site is home to many valleys and impressive rock formations known as “fairy chimneys” which, when paired with vibrant red skies and a pink glow from the volcanic rock, makes watching a sunset here a once-in-a-lifetime experience. - Waikiki Beach (Hawaii, United States of America) – Sunset Score of 79.8
When you think of the quintessential tropical sunset that adorns many a computer screensaver, it’s highly likely you think of the kind of image that accompanies a sunset at Waikiki Beach offers. Featured in iconic shows like Hawaii Five-0 and said to be the birthplace of modern surfing, this beautiful beach with its backdrop of a volcanic crater called Diamond Head is a brilliant place to watch the sun go down. - Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona, USA) – Sunset Score of 79.6
The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the USA’s oldest, having been given National Park status in 1919. One of the country’s most famous tourist attractions, it has over 1,000 different caves and is composed of multiple layers of rock consisting of different types of minerals. The canyon comes alive during sunset, with spots like the South Rim well known and loved for a visit at dusk to watch the sun go down. - Uluru (Ayers Rock) (Northern Territory, Australia) – Sunset Score of 79.6
Uluru, one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, is situated in the remote Northern Territory of Australia. 500 million years old and full of iron minerals, the monolithic sandstone formation that is deeply loved by many actually looks like it changes colour at sunset. Though you’re no longer permitted to climb Uluru, tourists can visit the area to learn about the indigenous Anangu people and marvel at the beautiful landscape of the Kata Tjuta National Park that surrounds it. - Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming, USA) – Sunset Score of 77.3
An iconic filming destination in movies such as The Revenant, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is a dream for adventurous explorers who want to hike and climb their way through nature. Tourists here often visit viewpoints like Jackson Lake where the sunsets are particularly dramatic thanks to the explosion of colours and reflection of the looming Teton Range in the water. - Taj Mahal (Agra, India) – Sunset Score of 74.8
Considered one of the most impressive feats of engineering of all time, India’s magnificent Taj Mahal features on the bucket lists of many travellers. Many visit it at dawn to watch the sun rise over the temple’s intricate architecture, but it’s just as spectacular at sunset. The “secret” sunset spot at the Mehtab Bagh gardens is highly recommended for those wanting to see the building bathed in the dusky glow that occurs when nightfall arrives. - Piazzale Michelangelo (Florence, Italy) – Sunset Score of 73.8
Florence, one of Italy’s most visited cities, is home to intricate and beautiful architecture and becomes even more impressive at sunset. With panoramic views of the Tuscan hills and landmarks like the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, the viewpoint from Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most enchanting places to watch the sun dip below the horizon, with street performers and picnics creating a blissful atmosphere for travellers and locals to enjoy. - Ipanema Beach (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Sunset Score of 72.0
Ipanema Beach, the more relaxed counterpart to Rio’s Copacabana Beach, is renowned for its vivid sunsets which are framed by the Dois Irmãos peaks. With a fresh caipirinha in hand and samba music filling the air, tourists are recommended to head to Ipanema’s Posto 9, a lifeguard station and prime spot recommended by locals for sunset. - Haleakalā Summit (Hawaii, USA) – Sunset Score of 71.2
The second feature from Hawaii in our top 10, Haleakalā Summit is the highest point on the island of Maui and is famed for both its sunrise and sunsets. The Hawaiian word Haleakalā actually translates to “House of the Sun” in Hawaiian and sunrises here are in fact so popular that spots must be reserved in advance, but sunsets can be just as impressive thanks to being so high above - Arthur’s Seat (Edinburgh, Scotland) – Sunset Score of 69.4
One of the more surprising entries into the top 10 comes from the UK and is the capital city of Scotland. A short but steep hike from Edinburgh’s city centre will take you to the top of Holyrood Park, where panoramic views over the city are stunning all year round – lush and green in summer and snow-capped in winter.
- Cappadocia (Nevșehir, Turkey) – Sunset Score of 86.1
Whether you’re chasing sunsets across volcanic craters or relaxing on a tropical beach with a drink in hand, we hope you see some spectacular shows in the sky next time you travel abroad. Always remember to purchase comprehensive Travel Insurance before you set off, so you can experience those sunsets with peace of mind.
Methodology:
We created a seed list of 100 different destinations around the world that are known for their impressive sunsets, before locations were scored based on five key factors influencing sunset quality:
- Cloud Cover: Moderate cloud cover (30–70%) was favoured, as it enhances the scattering of sunlight to create vivid colors. Extreme values were penalised.
- Wind Speed: Calm to moderate wind speeds (2–5 m/s) were rated highest for their ability to maintain atmospheric clarity, with penalties for very low or high winds.
- Precipitation: Locations with no precipitation scored highest, while light rain was moderately penalised. Heavy rainfall received the lowest scores due to reduced visibility.
- Humidity: Moderate relative humidity (30–60%) was rewarded for its role in scattering light, while extremely high or low humidity levels were penalised.
- Instagram Hashtags: Social proof was factored in, with higher scores given to locations with more posts under relevant hashtags, reflecting their popularity for stunning sunsets.
Each factor was weighted appropriately, and the combined scores were used to rank the locations with the most vivid sunsets.
Data correct as of November 2024.